| Parrita | |
| Native Name Lang: | es |
| Settlement Type: | Canton and District |
| Pushpin Map: | Costa Rica |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Parrita canton location in Costa Rica |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Parrita canton location in Costa Rica |
| Coordinates: | 9.5471°N -84.3464°W |
| Map Alt: | Parrita canton |
| Image Alt: | African palm plantations in Parrita |
| Established Title: | Creation |
| Established Date: | 5 July 1971[1] |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Puntarenas |
| Seat Type: | Head city |
| Seat: | Parrita |
| Government Type: | Municipality |
| Governing Body: | Spanish; Castilian: Municipalidad de Parrita |
| Parts Type: | Districts |
| Parts Style: | list |
| Parts: | Districts |
| P1: | Parrita |
| Area Total Km2: | 478.79 |
| Elevation M: | 4 |
| Population Total: | 16115 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Blank Name: | Canton code |
| Blank Info: | 609 |
Parrita is a canton and its only district in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica.[2] [3]
The origin of the name, it is said, has to do with a woman named Rita who lived in one of the original settlements. Rita had a business and received packages. "Es pa' Rita" (It's for Rita) was often heard so the canton was called Parrita.
Parrita was created on 5 July 1971 by decree 4787.
Almost all of Costa Rican territory was inhabited before the arrival of the Spanish. The Huetars lived in this area. In 1924, a young German installed the first banana plantation near the Pirrís River (also called the Parrita River) which encouraged migration of people from San José and Guanacaste.
Parrita has an area of km2[4] and a mean elevation of metres.
The canton lies along the central Pacific coast between the mouths of the Tusubres River and Damas River. Inland the canton is delineated by a series of rivers that meander through the valleys of the coastal mountain range.
The canton of Parrita is subdivided into only one district, occupying the same area as the whole canton:
According to the 2011 census, Parrita had a population of inhabitants.[5]
The canton is covered by the following road routes: